San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-04-04
Baking Powders" and the Public
Health.

an adequate idea, OF the extent to which
"our daily bread" is adulterated. Many
spurious, worthless, even dangerous
preparations, by a kind Of Iatter-day
"booming," acquire popularity which
often drives puTer, better articles from
the market, on account Of the low price
at which they can be sold. Instances of
such adulteratiOn are constantly being
brought to light in those states where
the Argus-ryed inspector is ever on the
alert
The adulteratiOn of bread IL more in
furious to public health than any other
form Of food adulteratiOn; and the sharp
ers ''get in their work. most eflectually
through the medium Of so. called ~ ak
ing powders" with which the mBrket is
fooded-all claiming to be the best, and
all warranted "free from adulferatiOn."
The substances most used for this ne
farious purpose are alum and lime. Alum
costs about % cents per pound, lime al
most nothing; while pure cream or tar
tar, of which these articles are claimed
to be composed, costs about ~ cents.
Hence the temptation, and hence the
successful Imposition by means OF lower
price, upon the unsuspecting. Let the
physician contemplate for moment the
effect which the daily ingesIioE Of lime
OF alum must have upon the general
health. Ii is q slow poison but sure
one, and Ii, doubtless, one Of the most
prolific causes Of indigestion, dyspepsia,
etc, and OF kidney disease, 10 say moth
ing OF a large class of nondescript all
ments, which, being obscure, are laid TO
malaria" Lime, npOn being heated,
gives of a small quantity Of csrbQnic
acid gas, which serves to make the bread
''rise;" but what is left?-quick lime,
powerful caustlc. Imagine the effect
which the ingestion of such substance
daily, for q long period Of time. must
have upon the delicate mucous menu
brane of the stomach, especially of In
fants; and, later on, upon that VI the
bladder, where, doubtless, minute par
ticles OF il are finally deposited, and be
come the nuclei of the stone in the
bladder.
Prof. j. W. Mallett, of the University
of Virginia, (lste OF that of Texss) says
of this adulteraiion, 81 am decidedly OF
the opinion that both the substance
(alum) itself, and the products 70
which 1t gives rise in the course ofmak-
ing of bread, are injurious to health, and
on that account, fall into the list of such
food accessories rs should, on sanitary
grounds, be prohibited by law"
The attention of the sanitary officers
of the United States Government has
been directed to this matter, and Prof
Fl. A. Mott, U. s. Govt. Chemist, made
an analysis OF over one hundred speci-
mnes of baking powders bought in open
market, and IL il asserted that everyone
that was examined, with one notable
exception, the Royal Baking Powder,
contained either alum or lime, or both;
and in one, IL per cent, or 18th of the
weight, was lime. When such an auspic-
iOus exception is found, amidst SO much
fraud, the public and the mediGa! pro-
fessiOn should show their appreciation
Of it; should regard it as benetaCtiOn;
and part of the care exercised by the
family physician Oh behalf Of the health
of his constituency, if directed to eau
ton against such insidOus adultera-
tions, would doubtless prove prOtec-
tive measure against future ailments,
and save much subsequent trouble.
Actuated partly by curiosity, and
partly by an interest in the subject, we
caused an examination Ofthis brSnd, the
Royal Baking Powder, TO be made by a
competent chemist, and assured our
selves of its purity. Doubtless there are
other brands which are pure, or nearly
so; but conspicuous position has been
given this one in particular by published
analJ sis and testimonials OF absolute
purity by such men as Prof. II. A. Mott,
DR.. w. G. Tucker, Professor of Chemis-
try OF the Albany, N Y, Medical Col
lege; Prof. McMurtrie, late chemist of
the Agricultural Department Of the U.
S. Government and by Prof. Mallett, of
the Virginia University, well known TO
all Texans as thorough and cOnsoien-
tiOus chemist.
1t is not claimed that all baking pow
der authorizations are harmful. but it is
TO be urged that there is great danger In
the use OF those miscellaneous powders
which flood the market, or are peddled
from door to door, whose contents are
not known, or are OF doubtful quality.
An illustration of this danger is given in
the following paragraph, which is but
one OF the many similar reports seen in
the public press:
Wabash, Ind, Jan. 5.-The family of
John wooster, prominent citizen of
Montpelier, BlsckfOrd county, consist
ing OF five persons, was poisoned on
Monday night by eating buIscult in
which had been used very inferior
quality of baking powder. Two hours
after supper the entire family was
seized with terrible gripes, and their in
tense pain could not be alleviated. The
patients have grown steadily worse, and
alarming symptoms have appeared. One
of the children is dying. and the remain
der OF the family is in u precarious con-
dition, Waco Examiner.
The hope is cherished, that the day is
not far distant when al intelligent
Board of Health in Texas will exercise
a vigilance in the direction OF food adul-
teration, in the interest of public health,
and then this crime, for such it is, will
be punished by law, as it deserves to be.
Salvation Oil, the greatest cure on earth
for PAIN has no equal. Persons suffering from
rheumatism, neuralgia, or from cuts, bruises
sprans, &c, should not be without it. Price
only p cents.
What is the whole duty OF a married
mann asks the new cOnjugal catechism: To
be agreeable to MS wife and keep DR.. Bulls
Cough Syrup in the house for the children
when they get cold, of course. Ask us some
thing hard.
Dissolution of Partnership.
The partnership heretofore existing
under the firm name OF Simmang &
Hampel, conducting a general rostau-
rant business under the name "River-
side Restaurant" has this day been dis
solved by mutual consent Mr.. Simmang
Il